rear lamps (tail lights)


steved57

steved57

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Mar 29, 2008
1,941
kilgore tx
i noticed the shop manual states that when rebuilding the back end of the car
that you cannot re-use the rear lamps (tail lights) i havent removed mine yet
but they look fine - is it tru you cant re-use them ? any input would be appreciated

thanks

steve
 
steved57 said:
i noticed the shop manual states that when rebuilding the back end of the car
that you cannot re-use the rear lamps (tail lights) i havent removed mine yet
but they look fine - is it tru you cant re-use them ? any input would be appreciated

thanks

steve
Click to expand...

Hi Steve

The plastic studs that are a part of the tail light assmebly will break during the removal and or installation process if you are not very careful.

Yes several folks have removed them to be tinted and yet the risk remains

Takes care

Shadowman
 
Aero Loads

I remember this topic being discussed with the engineering team at Rally I and the team said the attachment posts would most likely be compromised if disassembled and the reassembled tail light would likely be separated from the car due to aerodynamic loads at "high" speeds. Thus the team recommended (and I believe the manual states) the assemblies cannot/should not be reused.
I would of course defer to Rich or Dennis's experience as they would know first hand.
 
Indy GT said:
I remember this topic being discussed with the engineering team at Rally I and the team said the attachment posts would most likely be compromised if disassembled and the reassembled tail light would likely be separated from the car due to aerodynamic loads at "high" speeds. Thus the team recommended (and I believe the manual states) the assemblies cannot/should not be reused.
I would of course defer to Rich or Dennis's experience as they would know first hand.
Click to expand...

We have done it many times without fail. I am sure that the post COULD break, but IMHO if they are removed carefully, they can be removed without damage and be re-installed without issue. Just be careful!! :thumbsup
 
thanks everyone for the input ! ill try and be very careful with them and
maybe even use a little loctite when re-installing the nuts

thanks again guys

steve
 
Indy GT said:
I remember this topic being discussed with the engineering team at Rally I and the team said the attachment posts would most likely be compromised if disassembled and the reassembled tail light would likely be separated from the car due to aerodynamic loads at "high" speeds. Thus the team recommended (and I believe the manual states) the assemblies cannot/should not be reused.
I would of course defer to Rich or Dennis's experience as they would know first hand.
Click to expand...

This is interesting

Thank you for sharing

Takes care

Shadowman
 
You guys know of a place I can get an OEM rear light?
Been over 18months and my panel shop hasn't called in ages so here I am on the hunt on the holly grail of GT knowledge..

Stuart
 
Torrie?
Perhaps he can sell (or find) you a unit if they are still available in the Ford parts list.
 
I recently heard that there is an 18 to 24 month lead time for tail lights....

Might be better to try the salvage yards.
 
I am sure X2 builders will have plenty of good used ones
 
7Z-13405-AA 7Z-13404-AA around $800 each new
 
ultrasport, if you need me to look at something for you at X2, please let me know, but can't do it till after the Rally in CA.
 
Thanks, but pretty well got everthing I need now
 
I received pics two days ago and tail lights are now in production. I would expect to see them at ford shortly here.
 
What was the source for this info? Last I heard, Ford had back ordered tail lights until December ....
 
well December is only about two months away;) Trust me they are being made and will be available soon!
 
Does anyone have any burned out tail lights they could part with? Would like a few for an experiment. Guy at an electronics control refurb shop we do business with seems to think a repair may not be so impossible after looking at mine. Might be a few hours labor but would still come out much cheaper than the new ones are going for. Let me know if you have one or more. Thanks!
 
jcthorne-

Out of curiosity, "what" burns out in the tail light?? I do not think I have seen any complaints here on the Fourm of burned out tail lights, but perhaps I have missed something.(?)

One of the advantages of Light Emitting Diodes (LED's) is their exceptional Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) relative to filament bulbs. Failure rates of LED's are orders of magnitude lower than typical bulb applications which should give us centuries of LED use without any burnout problems at typical FGT owner utilization rates.

So again I am curious what "repairs" your electronics control shop guy is contemplating?

Thanks!
 
Repair by replacing the LEDs that did not give the 'orders of magnitude' longer life. There have been a number of postings of tail lights with dead LEDs. Usually fail in groups. They are no where near the failure rate of the gauges, but they do die.
 
Dashboard Toggle Switch LED's have died also.

Howard
 
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